A new tyrant.Otto J. Reich and NATIONAL REVIEW should be celebrated for exposing the threat posed by Venezuela's Hugo Chavez ("Latin America's Terrible Two," April 11). The human-rights record of Lieutenant Colonel Chavez is appalling. Thousands of Venezuelans have been arrested, intimidated in·tim·i·date tr.v. in·tim·i·dat·ed, in·tim·i·dat·ing, in·tim·i·dates 1. To make timid; fill with fear. 2. To coerce or inhibit by or as if by threats. , or fired from their jobs for having signed a petition seeking Chavez's resignation. There are hundreds of individuals currently facing trumped-up charges for opposing him. There are scores already in prison. In one case, jailed opponents in the Fuerte Mara prison were torched to death with flame-throwers. The government refuses to concede con·cede v. con·ced·ed, con·ced·ing, con·cedes v.tr. 1. To acknowledge, often reluctantly, as being true, just, or proper; admit. See Synonyms at acknowledge. 2. that there have been any disappearances at all. Beyond imprisoning, torturing, and killing his opponents-unfortunate mischief A specific injury or damage caused by another person's action or inaction. In Civil Law, a person who suffered physical injury due to the Negligence of another person could allege mischief in a lawsuit in tort. to those who observe Venezuela from afar--Chavez's foreign policy is increasingly apparent as a clear and present danger to the safety of the hemisphere. Reich's report brought needed attention to what might be the next crisis in the Americas. For those, like President Jimmy Carter, who ignore the dead bodies of the regime's opponents and cling to Verb 1. cling to - hold firmly, usually with one's hands; "She clutched my arm when she got scared" hold close, hold tight, clutch hold, take hold - have or hold in one's hands or grip; "Hold this bowl for a moment, please"; "A crazy idea took hold of the fantasy that Chavez is a democratic leader, perhaps a refresher on Venezuela's new criminal code is in order. Article 148 makes insulting Hugo Chavez punishable by six to 30 months in prison; below the strongman, depending on the rank of the government official "dishonored dis·hon·or n. 1. Loss of honor, respect, or reputation. 2. The condition of having lost honor or good repute. 3. A cause of loss of honor: was a dishonor to the club. 4. ," punishment is half to two thirds of that. Press freedom is dead, now that making comments that could "expose another person to contempt or public hatred" subjects a reporter to a sentence of one to three years in prison and a fine. This very letter, reprinted in Venezuela, could subject me to such penalties. Notwithstanding Chavez's democratic election to office in 1999, Venezuela ceased to be a democracy years ago. Even putting aside the manifest fraud in the August 15 referendum--a joint team of M.I.T. and Harvard professors revealed statistical evidence of electoral fraud--Chavez's treatment of those who disagree disqualifies his regime from the category of democracy. The Bush administration would be wise to follow Reich's counsel and form an international, politically diverse coalition to confront this dangerous tyrant tyrant, in ancient history, ruler who gained power by usurping the legal authority. The word is perhaps of Lydian origin and carried with it no connotation of moral censure. . Thor Halvorssen New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , N. Y. |
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